- Be of good:
- This is a very animating address, and equal to anything of the kind in ancient or modern times. Ye fight pro aris et focis; for every good, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your countries. Such harangues, especially in very trying circumstances, are very natural, and may perhaps be found in the records of every nation. Several instances might be quoted from Roman and Grecian history; but few are more remarkable than that of Tyrtaeus, the lame Athenian poet, to whom the command of the army was given in one of the Messenian wars. The Spartans had at that time suffered great losses, and all their stratagems proved ineffectual, so that they began to despair of success; when the poet, by his lectures on honour and courage, delivered in moving verse to the army, ravished them to such a degree with the thoughts of dying for their country, that, rushing on with a furious transport to meet their enemies, they gave them an entire overthrow, and by one decisive battle brought the war to a happy conclusion. "And what¹ the landª [is], whether it¹ [be] fatª or¹ lean,ª whether there beª woodª therein, or¹ not.¹ And be ye of good courage,ª° and bringª° of the fruitª¹ of the land.ª Now the timeª [was] the timeª of the firstripeª grapes.ª" {Num 13:20} + "Be strongª° and of a good courage,ª° fearª° not,¹ nor¹ be afraidª° of¹¹ them:² for¹ the LORDª thy God,ª he¹ [it is] that doth goª° with¹ thee; he will not¹ failª° thee, nor¹ forsakeª° thee." {Deu 31:6} + "Be strongª° and of a good courage:ª° for¹ unto¹ this¹ peopleª shalt thou¹ divide for an inheritanceª°¹ the land,ª which¹ I swareª° unto their fathersª to giveª° them. ... Only¹ be thou strongª° and veryª courageous,ª° that thou mayest observeª° to doª° according to all¹ the law,ª which¹ Mosesª my servantª commandedª° thee: turnª° not¹ from¹ it [to] the right handª or [to] the left,ª that¹ thou mayest prosperª° whithersoever¹¹ thou goest.²°¹" {Jsh 1:6-7} + "Have not¹ I commandedª° thee? Be strongª° and of a good courage;ª° be not afraid,ª°¹ neither¹ be thou dismayed:ª° for¹ the LORDª thy Godª [is] with¹ thee whithersoever¹¹ thou goest.²°¹" {Jsh 1:9} + "Whosoeverª¹¹ [he be] that doth rebel²° against¹¹ thy commandment,ª and will not¹ hearken²° unto¹¹ thy wordsª in all¹ that¹ thou commandestª° him, he shall be put to death:ª° only¹ be strongª° and of a good courage.ª°" {Jsh 1:18} + "And Jonathanª saidª° to¹ the young manª that bareª° his armour,ª Come,²°¹ and let us go overª° unto¹ the garrisonª of these¹ uncircumcised:ª it may be that¹ the LORDª will workª° for us: for¹ [there is] no¹ restraintª to the LORDª to saveª° by manyª or¹ by few.ª" {1Sm 14:6} + "And the men²¹ of the garrisonª answeredª°¹ Jonathan²¹ and his armourbearer,ªª° and said,ª° Come upª° to¹ us, and we will shewª° you a thing.ª And Jonathan²¹ saidª° unto¹ his armourbearer,ªª° Come upª° afterª me: for¹ the LORDª hath deliveredª° them into the handª of Israel.ª" {1Sm 14:12} + "And Davidª saidª° to¹ Saul,ª Let no¹ man'sª heartª failª° because¹ of him; thy servantª will go²°¹ and fightª° with¹ this¹ Philistine.ª" {1Sm 17:32} + "Be strongª° and courageous,ª° be not afraidª°¹ nor¹ dismayedª° forª¹ the kingª of Assyria,ª nor for¹¹ all¹ the multitudeª that¹ [is] with¹ him: for¹ [there be] moreª with¹ us than with¹¹ him:" {2Ch 32:7} + "And I looked,ª° and rose up,ª° and saidª° unto¹ the nobles,ª and to¹ the rulers,ª and to¹ the restª of the people,ª Be not¹ ye afraidª° of¹¹ them:² rememberª°¹ the Lord,ª [which is] greatª and terrible,ª° and fightª° for¹ your brethren,ª your sons,ª and your daughters,ª your wives,ª and your houses.ª" {Neh 4:14} + "So thatª weª may boldlyª° say,ª° The Lordª [is] myª helper,ª andª I will²° notª fearª° whatª manª shall doª° unto me.ª" {Hbr 13:6}
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